The Blonde Side was recently interviewed for the Runtastic blog. For those who don’t know about Runtastic, it’s a health and fitness community and is an all-around awesome app, that will help keep you on track.
This interview and blog post was part of our involvement with Women’s Health Magazine as an Action Hero.
Read the blog post:
I am lucky to live in a great community like Houston – one that is an active running community and loves giving back to various charities. RUN 10 FEED 10 has been a perfect match. I have been blessed to be a part of this charity run for the past four years, and have seen how it has impacted children and families right in my own neighborhood.
(Click here to read the rest on the Runtastic blog)
To join the Houston Run10Feed10 event, click here to sign up and use code WHLAMM for a discount. The 5k is Saturday, October 15th.
Wings for Life World Run starts in Houston at 6 am Sunday with 34 cities worldwide participating. Photo by Marv Watson for Wings for Life World Run
H-Town super runner talks virtual race, shares tips on running in the heat
Avid runners in the Houston community have likely heard Calum “Cal” Neff’s name before. Neff has a number of running accolades credited to his name. To name just a few, he is the Guinness World Record Holder for Fastest Half Marathon pushing a stroller (which he dominated in Katy for a time of 1:11:27), he came in 23rd overall in the 2016 Houston Marathon, and he won the 2014 North American Wings for Life World Run.
For those who aren’t familiar with the Wings for Life World Run (WFLWR), it is a global run taking place at the exact same time in 34 locations this year across the world. The purpose is to raise funds for research in finding a cure for spinal cord injuries.
As Neff gears up with hopes of adding another title or personal record to his stat card, he is encouraging other runners, of all levels, to join him for the Wings for Life World Run Selfie Run this Sunday, May 8th. Houston’s official timeslot for this virtual groundbreaking Selfie Run is 6 am – plenty of time for Mother’s Day celebrations and brunch afterwards!
Runners can sign up for free, and run anywhere at their own pace. The Selfie Run, which uses the all-new Wings for Life World Run app, is perfect if you want to train for the big day, set your own course, race at exactly the same time as everyone else worldwide and share the experience with real time results, right down to a virtual Catcher Car. Like all things, running is enjoying new trends to keep it fresh and exciting; this is just the next in a long line of unique races.
“The World Run is my way to help raise awareness and funds for this special cause, and the unique race format keeps my racing interesting too. The ultra-marathon distance on fast roads plays really well into my area of specialty right now as a runner,” Neff shares of his love for the WFLWR.
The Houston heat is here to stay so we asked Neff to share a few tips to keep your running game strong for the Selfie Run and all summer long:
Embrace the heat! High humidity and heat training have a physiological response similar to altitude. At altitude, your body makes more red blood cells to adapt to less oxygen; in heat, your body creates more blood volume (therefore, more red blood cells). So when the cooler weather comes around you have the performance advantage of carrying more oxygen.
Run with others to stay motivated. You will find someone running at Memorial Park at any hour of the day, even when it’s hot.
Scale back your pace and distance. Don’t expect the same performance as in cooler temps and don’t be unmotivated by how you feel. Running in the heat can have the same symptoms of being out of shape but don’t confuse the two.
Gatoritas. Blue Gatorade powder, ice, and water-blend. Ice slushy mixes are proven to be absorbed faster than room-temp or iced water, keeping you cool and hydrated. Use an insulated bottle or flask like the ones you can find from Nathan.
Dawn Patrol. This is a term given to weekend warriors trying to squeeze in adventures before work. It’s still going to be hot at 5 am but at least the sun won’t be beating down on you. We could all use a few more sunrises in our life too.
Cryotherapy. My indoor escape from the heat is the Chilled Cryospa in Katy. This full recovery spa has all the tools to keep your body happy including the cryo tank where you stand for 3 minutes at -220 degrees!
Listen to your body. No different than any other time of year but especially important in the heat. Some days you just don’t have it, don’t fight it. Your heart will thank you later. Pay attention especially if you notice you are not sweating or have chills.
Head inside. Yes, the dreadmill.
Travel. It’s a good time to get away!
Instructions for signing up for the selfie run:
Download the “Selfie Run” app on your iOS or Android mobile device App Store.
Connect with Facebook or create an account.
Sign up for the Selfie Run and set your location for May 8 in Houston.
With this new running buddy, you can train to the tune of 500 songs of your choice. And it stands to reason with the recent and sudden passing of music icon Prince, that I would run my heart out to some of his best tunes.
Here are a few features of this new fitness gadget:
24/7 activity tracking
GPS tracking
Multisport mode
Built-in heart rate monitor
Up to 500 songs of music storage
And I highly recommend the bluetooth headphones. It will truly change your running game.
You also have a 30-day money back guarantee, which is a huge plus anytime I order new trackers – sometimes they just don’t work for my particular activity or they aren’t comfortable. Everyone is different, so it’s great to know you can send it back if it isn’t motivating you like you need.
PS – what’s your favorite Prince song? Mine is a tie between Little Red Corvette and Party Like It’s 1999 (since that’s the year I graduated highschool and we played that song on repeat).
*This post is in partnership with my role as a Women’s Health Magazine Action Hero.
Join The Blonde Side’s Wings for Life Selfie Run Team
Join The Blonde Side’s team for Wings for Life Selfie Run, Sunday, May 8th – it’s free to sign up and you can run from anywhere!
This is a ground-breaking event (I mean, who doesn’t love anything involving a selfie?) to support spinal cord injury research, that allows anyone/anywhere to run with the entire world in a race with no finish line.
Here’s how to sign-up (it’s super easy, and did I mention free?):
DOWNLOAD THE SELFIE RUN APP ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE
CONNECT WITH FACEBOOK OR CREATE AN ACCOUNT
SET YOUR LOCATION TO “ANYWHERE IN THE HOU METRO” AND CONFIRM YOUR SELFIE RUN PARTICIPATION
CLICK ON “TEAM RUNS” AND SEARCH FOR THE BLONDE SIDE. JOIN!
https://theblondeside.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/FullSizeRender.jpg522750Jaymehttps://theblondeside.com//wp-content/uploads/2018/06/1526998321020-300x192.pngJayme2016-04-25 14:10:522016-04-25 14:21:24Selfie Run: Wings for Life Selfie Run
TRX Training // Photo: Sunshine Winters Photography
A lot of people ask how I work out & stay active since I’m always traveling (each year I spend between 100 – 260 days on the road), so I wanted to quickly share three of my favorite fitness secrets:
1. THIS “Hit The Deck”game that is by far my favorite (and you can usually kill a good workout in 15 mins)
2. TRX Training – love them, obsessed. Hook them up to a parking garage (check), a palm tree (check), in your garage (check) and much more!
3. The new IGNITE DVD from Women’s Health – many people probably don’t use DVD’s anymore or have DVD players, but my laptop has a DVD slot, so it’s easy to take on the road with me. Purchase yours today.
Now it’s your turn – what are your tricks to staying fit – whether during a busy week or while traveling?
Mark your calendars for the 14th annual Dr. Marnie Rose Foundation 5k hitting Houston (NRG Stadium) on April 10th. It’s early – just warning you – but it’s worth it.
The Blonde Side (and formerly Charity Chicks Houston) has participated in this fun and worthy 5k for at least five years (last year was our first year to miss it!) and we want to come back to 2016’s run stronger than ever.
Click here to join The Blonde Side’s team (or make a small donation). The cost to sign-up and join our team is $35 for a timed 5k or $30 for the un-timed 5k. Like all events The Blonde Side participates in, all levels are welcome. In the past we’ve had one of our runners place in the Top 5 (oh hey Jennifer Jones Stroud!), we’ve had some walkers and we’ve just had some chatters waiting for brunch afterwards. Strollers are welcome, so don’t let that deter you from joining our fun run.
Last year Run for the Rose raised $610,000 supporting brain cancer research and pediatric health initiatives right here in Houston, Texas. This year (2016) – the foundation is looking to raise even more!
How can you help?
Sign up or donate at the link above
See if your employer or any other friends would like to donate or match our donations (tax-deductible)
We are looking for a team t-shirt sponsor so we can all match – because that’s what blondes who run sport’s columns do!
We have set pretty reasonable goals for our team, but we hope to exceed it. As a team, we are hoping
Join The Blonde Side’s Run for the Rose team
to raise $1,500 and have 35 team members!
Questions/interest in sponsoring The Blonde Side’s team? Email: jayme @ theblondeside .com
Every contribution makes a difference. Every $1 that is donated generates an estimated $5-10 of federal funding and grant support. Thus, not only does philanthropic funding help address unmet needs, but given the type of creative research activity it supports, it also can help catalyze new ideas. It is too late for Marnie, but we can work together and make sure the next patient’s story has a happier ending.
https://theblondeside.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Screen-Shot-2016-02-22-at-2.34.32-PM.png358408Jaymehttps://theblondeside.com//wp-content/uploads/2018/06/1526998321020-300x192.pngJayme2016-02-26 08:29:262016-02-23 13:22:38Join Our Team: Dr. Marnie Rose Foundation 5k
When you’re committed to running or training for a race, the rain (and other outdoor elements like snow – something we aren’t used to here in Texas) can be a nuisance and easy deterrence.
Um, it’s rainy. I can skip today. Who’s said that before? [Raises hand.]
My solution? Find a good Pandora station to jam to (mine is still Lionel Richie believe it or not), get some great scenery (like this great art wall in EADO), and just take off.
Running has quite a few crazy misconceptions. Like you have to belong to a gym. You have to have a running partner. You have to be a “good runner.” (By the way, how do you define what a good runner is and who came up with that definition?) You have to have the best and brand new shoes on the market. You have to know exactly where you’re going.
All BS. And here’s why: I don’t currently belong to a gym. I don’t always have a running partner (although it’s nice). I am definitely not a “good runner” but I try my hardest, which is really the key. I do have some of the best and brand new shoes on the market (thanks New Balance), but sometimes I forget to pack them and just grab the oldest/dirtiest pair lying around in my car.
A few of my personal tips to get going or keep going:
Keep the gear with you. I always keep running shoes and clothes with me. Whether in the car or packing when I am traveling, even for just a short time. I guarantee the one time you’ll want to run is the one time you won’t have your gear.
Make it social. Even if it’s just a brisk walk, invite a friend (or a different one each week) for a walk to chat and catch up. Or join a running club – there are tons of them in every city and many of them even enjoy a pint of cold beer afterwards!
Try to make it a habit. I’m not saying run 10 miles everyday, but if you can get yourself to run at the same spot and around the same time each day, you’ll notice a routine, like passing many of the same runners each day. It’s almost a level of accountability.
Feel like a runner. I typically run farther and take my running more seriously when I look the part. If I’m decked out in some fancy running clothes and shoes and people pass by me, I want to look the part and not like a phony!
Set a goal that works for you. For me, I tend to feel more “accomplished” when I run a long distance without stopping, which is usually my goal in running half marathons. For others, it’s how fast they can run a mile or a certain distance. For others, it’s how many days a week they lace up and for some, it’s doing it for a particular amount of time.
Use the Nike Training Club app. I love being able to track my times and distances and it even asks you to pick an emoji that sums up your workout for the day (mine usually equals meh). Some people like Map My Run or other running/fitness apps.
Sign up for a race. Preferably one that’s for a good cause. Plus: see link below if you’re in Houston!
If you’re looking for something to train for and get moving,join The Blonde Side’s team for the Dr. Marnie Rose Foundation 5k April 10th (or consider donating a few bucks to the cause). We’ll have runners and walkers of all levels (and strollers are welcome, so that’s no excuse!).
What running tips do you have to share or trails do you love running in Houston?
https://theblondeside.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/IMG_5676.jpg27263166Jaymehttps://theblondeside.com//wp-content/uploads/2018/06/1526998321020-300x192.pngJayme2016-02-22 13:01:422016-02-22 13:01:42Rainy Day Run // Bright Walls
We had 30 Houston women join us for a fun sweat-sesh in River Oaks – some first-time riders (who did amazing!), some veteran riders, and even a friend WHO JUST HAD A BABY FOUR WEEKS AGO (I won’t mention your name Brittney).
Before I thank our sponsors and ask for your input on upcoming events, I wanted to share with you something that RYDE does that I think is amazing. Before signing up for a class, they ask you to create an account (usually something that turns me off). AS SOON AS THE CLASS WAS OVER, I got an email titled “RYDE Performance” telling me stats like average RPM, high RPM, distance, watts and more so I could really see the work I put in. The amount of sweat I produced was proof enough that I had my butt kicked, but I loved seeing those stats (yet, I’m still a baby and don’t want to compare mine to others!), but if you’re a number’s person, you’ll love this aspect.
Also, I am not-so-secretly obsessed with Lisi and Ashley – our instructors for Sunday’s class. They
RYDE created a playlist just for The Blonde Side
took their time to help the newbies learn how to properly set up their bikes (you’d be surprised how many studios skip this step for sake of time or thinking everyone’s attended a spin or cycling class before). And they smiled the entire time. I can barely breathe and cycle, yet they can talk, cycle and smile.
Now on to our sponsors – a big thank you. The Blonde Side events would not happen without you:
Ideal Protein Houston – These were the protein bars (cut up and served with toothpicks) you all went crazy for! There are so many flavors and I always keep at least one in my bag so I don’t get hangry. Message Abe (the man in charge) and get 15% off your order by mentioning The Blonde Side.
TicketCity – They donated a $100 gift card for our after-class raffle.
Chambord & Korbel – Provided our after class champagne toast – this is a great drink mix if you don’t love champagne all by itself, just add a splash of Chambord (raspberry liqueur) and it’s amazing! Yes, champagne is part of Sunday Funday, no matter where you are!
Lucky’s Pub – Provided free drink cards in our swag bags and offered gift cards for our raffle. One of my favorite sport’s bars downtown – the best spot to meet up with friends before an Astros and Dynamo game!
Houston Dynamo – Provided opening day tickets for our raffle. Be sure to get tickets and check out the Dynamo this season!
Neiter Creative– Jo Neiter (she also joined our class, rocking one of The Blonde Side’s shirts) did our creative graphic/invites. She’s also one of my favorite Houston entrepreneurs.
Squeezed – These fine folks hooked up our riders with FULL-SIZED fresh-squeezed juices. These juices are packed with so many nutrients and goodness for your body, especially after a tough workout.
barkTHINS – a great snacking chocolate after our RYDE
barkTHINS– Many of you tried my favorite snacking chocolate for the first time. They have a ton of flavors and are available at almost any grocery store!
CharitaBulls – These gals so kindly donated their 2016 fan and player Texans calendar.
Other swag bag items included: complimentary sweet card from Petite Sweets, Yellow Rose Distilling Tour, discount for Belage Center with Dr. Yalamanchili (highly recommended for botox treatments in Houston), discount spa day at Deer Lake Lodge (a premiere health spa about 45 mins north of Houston – I’ve been there a ton and LOVE it). We also handed out LOCAL Houston Magazine issues (where The Blonde Side is their sportswriter).
NOW WE HAVE A QUESTION – PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT TO HELP US – We want to plan more events with The Blonde Side, but we need your input. What are you interested in? Yoga, a 5k Team Run/Walk, Gun Shooting and Lessons, Movie Night, etc.? Do you want more ladies-only events or co-ed? And is there a day/time of the week that works best?
If you have questions about sponsoring or co-hosting an event with The Blonde Side (we like to get creative, so start brainstorming), send us a note at jayme @ theblondeside . com.
Houston, get ready for The Blonde Side’s first fitness-related event. We will teaming up with the great folks at RYDE (spinning studio) on February 21st for Sunday Funday Reinvented (sadly, football is over for the season).
When: Sunday, February 21st – starts 2:15p (class is promptly at 2:30) – 4:00p (includes fun girl time, prizes, snacks, demos, etc.)
Cost: $25/person
Who: Ladies only – first-time spinners and experts welcome, must be 18+
Our pals at TicketCity are giving away a $100 gift card to one lucky RYDE’r (good for sporting events, concerts and more!).
Squeezed will have samples of juices and detox drinks available. Petite Sweets and barkTHINS will also be providing some sweet snacks after the ride and in our bags!
Everyone has that one “thing” they spend too much money on or trying to keep up with the latest trends. For some it’s purses or shoes, but for me – it’s active apparel and workout wear, since that’s pretty much the only thing you ever see me in. (Seriously, my online dating profile clearly warns men that I’m always in yoga pants.)
On a recent visit to Austin for the X Games, I was introduced toFitFit, which is a line of unique, bold active apparel. And of course I fell in love. Not just with the designs and bright colors, but the feel. These are the softest pants I’ve ever put on my body.
Based in Austin and made in Brazil, the leggings are perfect for yoga, running, spin, barre or even lounging. One of the hottest new trends in active apparel, the vibrant leggings from FitFit are not only breathable, comfortable and fast-drying, but also stretch and fade-resistant – so they can stay in your closet longer. And did I mention how comfortable they are?
The pants (the only thing I’ve tried so far) fit really well – a lot of yoga/running pants give me
TRX Training at Sculpt in Houston with FitFit pants
muffin top (yes, I am blaming the actual pants for that), but these fit snug around my waist as they should, but not too tight and stay in place. I’ve done as much as a six-mile run wearing these and they don’t fall down or sag like a few other brands I’ve tried – they are perfect.
They have been perfect for my HIIT sessions at Sculpt Fitness, as well as TRX, yoga and SPX.
Probably not great for my wallet, but I love the fact they come out with as many as 10 new prints every 6-8 weeks. That way you can stay up on the trends and keep yourself motivated during those harder workouts.
If you order online (they are in a few locations locally in Austin), there is a flat fee of $6 for shipping within the US, so stock up!
Lets face it – sometimes your workout gets boring, but that doesn’t mean your workout pants have to be.
